TAKE A SMILE, LEAVE A SMILE: Lets all get connected.

 LIVING THE HI LIFE.

Soooooo, this happened. 
     Today I finally got out of the suburbs and into the city. YAAAAAAY! I do love the  city life, book stores and cafes', neighborhood co-ops and such. There are tattoo shops and pubs, sidewalk walking and bustling life. These are the things my happy life is made of. But where are all the friendly smiles and polite nods? I REALLY love spreading my positive mood and have no problem smiling at strangers, holding open doors, and making funny faces at children that hide behind their mother skirts or in their dads arms. Hi, Hello, even a nice nod as a greeting, Nothing? REALLY? 

My Story: about 3:15 this afternoon I decided to drop a large load of clothes(I'd cleaned out of my closet) off at the charity drop box in the city. Did I mention that I love the city? I got out of the car and a young man was nearby who I asked to help me grab the drop box handle (I'm Waaaaay short).  Being on a very busy street with cars wizzing by, horns honking and the occasional... who am I kidding, the constant boom of music coming from the cars, I had to yell several times "CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE, I'M TOO SHORT". Finally he yelled back, "I'm too busy, I'm about to do something".  REALLY!? He wasn't.  His friend did however come to assist after giving him the similar look I did that said "REALLY?"  I did thank his friend and didn't have much trouble with the leaver after that, as a homeless guy was walking by and asked if he could have any jeans or other clothes I had.  I gave them all to him. 
     I want to know, When did we stop being polite? When did we become too busy to help each other with even the tiniest of tasks? Why don't we smile at each other? When did smiling become weird or make me a weirdo. Do you even hear me when I say hello? I enjoy being connected and really want to know "WHAT'S UP?". My smile is genuine and my wave sincere. I just wanted to say that. I don't know you but I wish you a good day too.

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK, THE TROUBLE WITH RETURNING HOME

           

       Returning  home after several years living abroad can be be a wonderful thing. You get to see your family, catch up with friends, and enjoy all those holidays you've been missing that your host country didn't quite celebrate. BUT, there are other feelings that are conjured up, sometimes even before you get home. While packing to go home you may begin to think twice and realize that there are a lot of things you will miss like, the ease of getting around if your host country is Asia or parts of Europe where the transportation is super convenient. Taiwan was my home for three years because twice I reconsidered returning home because I knew I would miss the convenience of getting around, the connectivity of people as everyone in my neighborhood knew each other smiled and greeted each other. The bank was around the corner, the tea shop was down stairs, the open market was across the street and the four convenient stores all knew what I would buy and how I liked my coffee. My neighborhood was my best friend and family. I knew I would miss that AND I DO!

WELCOME BACK HOME, ALICE YOU ARE NO LONGER IN WONDERLAND. And don't I know it! My first few weeks back was awesome, I  was able to see my two year old nephew who I hadn't seen since he was a few months old (my first visit back). I spent quality time with my mom and other family members. And  then it began to hit me. I wanted to go places, get out and move. I had a smart phone but there was no wifi, I needed to grocery shop but the nearest store was miles away, NOT locally around the corner or across the street. Living in Atlanta or even visiting my mom in Charlotte N.C. proved miserable without a car. The nearest bus stop was two miles away and only came every thirty minutes or so. Trains are a filthy joke in both states making suburban dwelling a potential homi-suicidal nightmare. There is no walking out the door and seeing your neighborhood family, walking to the train, sitting in the neighborhood cafe', restaurant, pub or shopping all a stone throws of each other. There are no sounds of children playing, or sounds of life at all. everyone is shut inside their homes or their cars. I began missing the life I lived in Taiwan A LOT! I needed something to do, something to see, someone to engage and chat with. I craved the smiles and polite greetings I'd become accustomed to. I craved the sounds of people moving about, children playing out doors, and even the sound of the garbage truck that played a silly tune down on the street. I craved talking to my neighbors who were always ready to chat you up. I just wanted to hop on a train and conveniently be where I needed to be. So, each day I found myself planning my escape, plotting to break out, deciding to GO! I don't like TV, I hate the news and "reality TV", and the selfish self-absorbed pretentious attitude in this country is wholly depressing. 

GETTING OUT OF THE SLUMP
Reverse culture shock is ABSOLUTELY A THING, and you or I, We are NOT alone.  here are 5 ways to help deal with culture shock.

1. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! the suburbs are the worse when trying to overcome culture shock. I believe the U.S. is one of the only places that have neighborhoods so isolated and mind-numbingly stoic as the suburbs. If you have a car drive into the city, if you don't BEG a friend to get you the hell out of there. Being around people and engaging in city life will help you feel connected to your home again.

2. Stay in touch with other expats and Nomadic Travelers. Talking with friends who have also experienced RCS(reverse culture shock) reminds you that you aren't alone. You can gain perspective and insight as well as other tips on how to deal with acclimating back into the lifestyle of home. 

3. Keep busy. You may not have a job as soon as you return home, or much of anything to do BUT, just as it was important NOT to just sit around when you moved away to a new country it is important that you don't mope around now that you have returned home. Blog about your experiences, edit the hundreds of photos you took while away, even volunteering can take your mind of feeling loss, and home sick for the home you left.
 
4. Stay connected with your friends you made back in your home country. Leaving and never saying goodbye, or not keeping in contact can make it even harder to accept that you are not there anymore. You will miss those friends and the things you thought you would hate forever but came to love. Staying in touch and hearing from old friends every once in a while will help with the nostalgia.You can even have friends send you things that will bring comfort just as you did when you left home.

5.  GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! I know I've said this already but it is very important that you don't mope around or lay around watching TV all day wishing you were back in another country. If you really need to NOT be back home, start planning your next trip away, it will definitely make you feel better to see yourself on the move again. Some of us are just NOMADICS and that's O.k. we aren't meant to stay in one place. So, GO! be that world traveler, make your plans and put them into action, be the explorer you were meant to be.  GOOD LUCK!  

Check out the list of helpful website below on dealing with reverse culture shock.


http://www.expatica.com/nl/health_fitness/well_being/Reverse-culture-shock-101_16451.html

http://www.internations.org/magazine/reverse-culture-shock-15346


http://www.expatwomen.com/expat-women-confessions/reverse-culture-shock-book-version.php

Taipei nuclear plant protest

NO FEAR -Life

I jumped because I was afraid to

All in a day

Taiwan-We Love Cookies

     TJ is a cookie maker. He started out as a teacher, an English teacher here in Taiwan.  Now... he makes cookies. Tonight, however he is returning to teaching, but he won't be teaching English.  TJ teaching the art of cookie making to some local university students and  he will be speaking a lot of Chinese.  TJ is teaching these students how to make ginger bread men. A native born American, TJ has been living as an expat in Taiwan for more than five years. Listening to him speak Chinese is nothing less than impressive.  More than six feet tall and a slender build he is a very friendly host to all of his customer.  He kind of reminds me of one of the guys from The Big Bang Theory, totally cool but a Star Wars enthusiast (it's the Star Wars T-shirt and his welcome sign, "Come to the dark side, we have cookies" that hangs just in view as you commit to your choice of pastry.  
      I first met TJ after I'd enjoyed lunch at his neighbor's  Sabbabah Cafe'.  They share an adjoining wall so it was virtually impossible not to smell that sweet familiarity of home baked cookies amongst the smell of noodles and stinky tofu as I walked by.  The smell of home rose in the air and I was voluntarily drawn to his cookies.  To my delight it was the end of the day and he sent me home with all of the left overs I could carry.  And tonight,  I am back to take plenty of photos and tell all of Taipei about the wonderful cookies here at We Love Cookies.  I don't have to do a lot of work though. We love Cookies has been drumming up business for years and people from near and far have heard about the cookie guy.  His cookies are tasty and all made freshly by hand every day. 

To learn more about We Love Cookies visit  http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Love-Cookies/225894720786686

Live Painting - I took a moment to watch.

     There are always a vast number of things to do in the city of Taipei. Having lived here for a little over a year I have grown to appreciate the sounds, excitement and the hurried movement of people.  When living in Taipei be ready for anything, because around each corner and at every turn down an unfamiliar street you are likely to stumble upon something that wasn't there before or something you missed.    Today as I walked down Dunhua S. road I decided to visit the Eslite bookstore.  I was very surprised to see live artwork in progress. I watched and recorded as a beautiful painting came to life.  I enjoy the tiny little surprises like this that Taipei has to offer.